According to folks in the know who've spoken to Bloomberg and The New York Times, Apple's oft-rumored streaming radio service is set for a late arrival. The reason is because of snails-pace negotiations with the publisher Sony/ATV for music licensing deals. As the Times notes, Sony no longer lets outsiders like ASCAP dole out licenses, leaving itself as chief point of contact for such agreements on its content -- this apparently got Pandora locked into a twenty five-percent increase on royalty payments to Sony. Prior to today's reports, Bloomberg stated that Cupertino was aiming for a Q1 release for this year, and the NYT notes Apple hoped that launch would've happened near the Grammy Awards. If you'll recall, Apple's service is said be direct competition to others like Pandora rather than Spotify, as it would be ad-supported for revenue. As usual, take all of this with a grain of salt, and don't get too thirsty for an Apple-curated streaming music service just yet. More info at the source links.

Due to a quality control hiccup just one day before the Nasne was due for release in Japan, Sony has been forced to postpone it. The product combines a networked recorder with 500GB of storage and can be used to stream TV and other media to a range of Sony devices including the PS3, Vita, VAIO, Tablet and Xperia phone ranges -- potentially becoming a key example of Kaz Hirai's "One Sony" strategy. Judging from the official explanation of the problem, it sounds like some goods were simply damaged while being transported and hence the delay shouldn't last long.

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Wed, 18 Jul 2012 05:09:00 -040021|20280506http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/30/sony-xperia-android-ice-cream-sandwich-ics-update-details/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/30/sony-xperia-android-ice-cream-sandwich-ics-update-details/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/30/sony-xperia-android-ice-cream-sandwich-ics-update-details/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsTo be fair, things have... changed a bit since we heard back in November that the Xperia handset line would be getting Ice Cream Sandwich by March of 2012. Specifically, Sony Ericsson is no more, and it's up to Sony Mobile alone to continue the torch carrying. At any rate, the outfit has made clear today that it'll be mid-April at the earliest before any of the Xperia smartphones see an Android 4.0 update, with the Xperia Arc S, Xperia Neo V and Xperia Ray amongst the first on deck. We're told that the updates will start hitting that trio in the middle of next month, with every last owner to be gifted in the four to six weeks following. Beyond that, the Xperia Play, Xperia Neo, Xperia Mini, Xperia Mini Pro, Xperia Pro and Xperia Active will start seeing ICS "from the end of May / early June." You know, pretty much right when Android 5.0 will be unveiled.

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Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:08:00 -040021|20205401http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/thailand-flooding-forces-sony-to-postpone-alpha-nex-7-release-c/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/thailand-flooding-forces-sony-to-postpone-alpha-nex-7-release-c/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/thailand-flooding-forces-sony-to-postpone-alpha-nex-7-release-c/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Sony has just postponed the launch of its new NEX-7 mirrorless camera, due to widespread flooding in Thailand. According to the manufacturer, the flooding has impacted operations at two of its three factories within the country, thereby delaying production of both the NEX-7 and Alpha A65. Reuters is reporting that one camera plant has been completely flooded, while operations at a semiconductor factory have been suspended due to supply shortages. The NEX-7 was originally scheduled to hit the market next month, though Sony now says it has been delayed indefinitely. "It is difficult for us to say at this time when production will re-start in Thailand," spokesman George Boyd told the BBC. "However, we are taking measures to move production to our third factory in Thailand which is operational and also to other sites."

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Thu, 20 Oct 2011 04:32:00 -040021|20086027http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/07/sony-misses-promised-playstation-network-and-qriocity-restoratio/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/07/sony-misses-promised-playstation-network-and-qriocity-restoratio/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/07/sony-misses-promised-playstation-network-and-qriocity-restoratio/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Whoops. If you'll recall, Sony held what can only be described as an emergency press event in Japan a week ago in order to issue a number of assurances about the resumption of service as it relates to the PlayStation Network and Qriocity. Seven days later, things are still as dead as they were pre-Cinco de Mayo. This evening, the company's Senior Director of Corporate Communications Patrick Seybold punched out a quick update to let the world know that they could actually leave the house and find something else to entertain 'em -- like it or not, PSN isn't coming back online today. The reason? On May 1st, Sony was apparently "unaware of the extent of the attack on Sony Online Entertainment servers," and now, it's spinning its wheels in order to restore security on the network and "ensure" that user data is safe. Mr. Seybold seems to understand that you're overly anxious about getting back into the swing of things, and he's even going so far as to ask your trust that Sony's doing "everything [it] can" to get the lights blinking once more. Oh, and if you were planning on visiting that source link just to find the new ETA... don't. Sony's planning to update you "as soon as it can."

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Sat, 07 May 2011 03:18:00 -040021|19934363http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/02/sony-ceo-casually-mentions-hes-supplying-cameras-to-apple/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/02/sony-ceo-casually-mentions-hes-supplying-cameras-to-apple/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/02/sony-ceo-casually-mentions-hes-supplying-cameras-to-apple/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
We were tempted to call it an April Fools' joke, but it seems the story's true: Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer reportedly let slip that his company is producing cameras for the next batch of iPhones and iPads during a public interview with the Wall Street Journal. Traditionally, Apple's sourced its sensors from OmniVision, including the delightfully backside-illuminated 5 megapixel CMOS unit you'll find in the iPhone 4, but since Sony too has BSI tech and OmniVision has reportedly encountered delays, your next portable Apple product might house a Sony Exmor R sensor like the one we admired on the Xperia Arc. Mind you, that may not end up actually happening, because of the context in which Sir Howard revealed the news -- according to 9 to 5 Mac, he said that the factory producing sensors for Apple was affected by the Japanese tsunami. Oh well.

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Sat, 02 Apr 2011 14:26:00 -040021|19900907http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/leaf-deliveries-delayed-by-japanese-quake-but-nissan-and-sony-a/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/leaf-deliveries-delayed-by-japanese-quake-but-nissan-and-sony-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/leaf-deliveries-delayed-by-japanese-quake-but-nissan-and-sony-a/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Not the jolliest of news if you were waiting on a fresh new Leaf EV to blow in any time soon, as Nissan has had to understandably delay shipments as a result of the natural disaster that has befallen Japan. Updates on when customers might expect their orders to be completed will be forthcoming as soon as available. There are happier developments on the isle of Japan itself, however, where Nissan is resuming limited operations at five plants today and expects to be producing vehicles again by Thursday, which will last as long as supplies do. Sony has also shaken off some of the effects of the recent earthquake and says it'll restart production of lithium-ion batteries at its Tochigi prefecture plant tomorrow. So, encouraging signs ahead for Japan's industry, let's hope everyone else's recovery proves to be as swift.

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Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:25:00 -040021|19885980http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/17/sony-ericsson-yendo-delayed-right-into-a-fiery-pit-of-irrelevanc/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/17/sony-ericsson-yendo-delayed-right-into-a-fiery-pit-of-irrelevanc/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/17/sony-ericsson-yendo-delayed-right-into-a-fiery-pit-of-irrelevanc/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Look, we'll be honest: the idea of an X10 mini running dumbphone software never really appealed to us from the start, so the news that it's apparently been delayed into 2011 doesn't elicit much of a reaction from anyone here at Engadget HQ. The Walkman-branded Yendo is currently targeting February to be specific, which would put it well past CES and pit it against what is likely to be a strong lineup of announcements at Mobile World Congress in the middle of the month, so we're thinking there isn't much retail traction in its future. And hey, in this cutesy, diminutive form factor, the keyboard-equipped X10 mini pro is where it's at anyway.

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Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:03:00 -050021|19767944http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/20/sony-ps3-motion-controller-delayed-until-fall-2010-globally/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/20/sony-ps3-motion-controller-delayed-until-fall-2010-globally/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/20/sony-ps3-motion-controller-delayed-until-fall-2010-globally/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Last official word we had on the launch of Sony's PS3 Motion Controller was Spring 2010. However, we just received a press release from Sony Japan with a revised availability of "Fall 2010." The calendar push affects Japan, Asia, North America, and Europe. In the statement, Kaz Hirai avoids using the "d" word saying only:

"We have decided to release the Motion Controller in fall 2010 when we will be able to offer an exciting and varied line-up of software titles that will deliver the new entertainment experience to PS3 users."

Still no mention of Arc though Sony does concede that "Motion Controller" is just a tentative name. Full press release after the break.

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Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:26:00 -050021|19323500http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/31/life-with-playstation-delayed-destined-to-be-free/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/31/life-with-playstation-delayed-destined-to-be-free/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/31/life-with-playstation-delayed-destined-to-be-free/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
You know how it goes with Sony and PS3-related peripherals. A big introduction, followed by a slight delay, followed by a longer delay, followed by a little something to take the sting off. Here we have word from Noam Rimon, senior development manager at SCEA R&D, that the news-blasting (and uncomfortably named) Life with PlayStation will once again be delayed. According to Noam, Sony is "still pushing some paperwork" on the service, though he gave no expected time frame for the actual launch. Nevertheless, he softened the blow by announcing once and for all that it will indeed be free (and accessible directly from the XMB) whenever it finally goes live. Gotta take the good with the bad, we guess.

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Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:22:00 -040021|1300286http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/29/sony-ericssons-xperia-x1-delayed-to-end-of-the-year/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/29/sony-ericssons-xperia-x1-delayed-to-end-of-the-year/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/29/sony-ericssons-xperia-x1-delayed-to-end-of-the-year/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
It's a little difficult to delay a device that hasn't gotten a more specific release window than "the second half of 2008" (from official sources, at least), but Sony Ericsson is doing its darnedest. The scuttlebutt at IFA is that the XPERIA X1 has been delayed to the end of the year, and a Sony rep confirmed to us that it's looking like December 2008 or January 2009. To blame is the software, specifically Windows Mobile 6.1 (or perhaps SE's implementation of it), which appeared to be actively destroying the display units Sony has on display at IFA -- of the three devices, one had some green status lights, one didn't work at all, and one turned on briefly, only to crash hard and never return again... a pretty poor showing for day one of the show. Some hands-on shots are below, glaringly void of actual device usage.Gallery-30745

After hitting delays already, we can't say that this was the PlayStation Home press release we've been expecting. Nevertheless, Sony just announced that it is expanding the closed PlayStation Home beta to more users in "Fall 2008." Kazuo Hirai, prez and ringmaster of Sony Computer Entertainment, said, "We understand that we are asking PS3 and prospective PS3 users to wait a bit longer, but we have come to the conclusion that we need more time to refine the service." Come on Mr Hirai, you can say it, PlayStation Home is delayed. See, that's wasn't so hard.

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Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:48:00 -040021|1174059http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/23/sony-delays-skype-psp-and-microphone-launch-indefinitely/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/23/sony-delays-skype-psp-and-microphone-launch-indefinitely/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/23/sony-delays-skype-psp-and-microphone-launch-indefinitely/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Weird. After making such a fuss, Sony Japan just delayed Skype on PSP services in Japan. A move with a definite knock-on effect for the rest of world. The cause of which seems to be Sony's two microphone products -- the single pack PSPJ-15010 and twin pack PSPJ-15011 -- which "did not meet the Skype specifications" and thus failed the certification process. Something you think Sony would have known well before the eve of the scheduled January 24th launch. We'll let you know when a new date is announced.

Update: This just in from Sony, "the SCEJ announcement regarding the delay of the PSP microphone peripheral and Skype service doesn't have any impact on the North American (or European) launches of Skype for PSP, which will coincide with the PSP firmware upgrade slated for the end of January." Straight from the horse, as it were.

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Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:46:00 -050021|1094044http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/16/sonys-playstation-3-review-roundup/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/16/sonys-playstation-3-review-roundup/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/16/sonys-playstation-3-review-roundup/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Ok, even though we didn't think Sony would ever pull together enough components to actually launch this thing (which probably explains the two week queue), the PlayStation 3 is finally upon us. You've witnessed the PS3 gettingunboxed, getting some playtime, and getting ripped apart, but now you can finally hop off that fence you've been occupying and decide which console suits you best. Although you may lust after Sony's sleek and sexy new toy, chances are that you won't snag it on day one -- unless you don't mind getting shot at while you wait in line, of course. Nevertheless, the initial wave of first reviews are in, and those fortunate enough to have already given the highly coveted machine a few hours of their time have spoken. Generally, reviewers felt that ported titles didn't do much to take advantage of the PS3's extra horsepower, and a Business Week reviewer "walked away more impressed with what it could do than with what it currently does." Moreover, nearly everyone mentioned the obviously high pricetag, but somehow felt that the PS3 packed a big enough punch to justify it, and CNET even went so far as to state that you'd "feel you got your money's worth, from both a gaming and multimedia perspective." So whether these reviews send you shooting out of the office in hopes of landing a good spot in line, or solidify your feelings that the Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii would better suit you, be sure to read on before swiping any card anywhere.

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Thu, 16 Nov 2006 14:27:00 -050021|703190http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/07/sony-admits-to-overreaching-on-playstation3s-blu-ray-producti/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/07/sony-admits-to-overreaching-on-playstation3s-blu-ray-producti/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/07/sony-admits-to-overreaching-on-playstation3s-blu-ray-producti/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsAfter Ken Kutaragi straight up told his rivals that he "didn't care" about the so-called competition they were trying to provide, and those very rivals laughed in his face over Sony's countlessdelays in producing its miracle machine, it seems that we're finally getting a bit of good ole honesty from Sony's "worldwide studios boss," Phil Harrison. Referring to the company's inability to gather up those ever-elusive "blue diodes," he stated that the firm had "overreached in production of the Blu-Ray component," later adding that it was simply the "price you pay for adopting brand new, leading-edge technologies that will be future proof." While we have sincere doubts about any technology being entirely resistant to successors, we certainly appreciate the proclamation that all this delay speculation wasn't without merit. Harrison concluded by suggesting that while these perpetual delays seem like a huge public challenge right now, he's hoping expecting that all the blokes in Europe will be quite forgiving come March of next year, and stated that the entire debacle "will eventually pale into zero." We'll just have to see about that, now won't we?

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Tue, 07 Nov 2006 09:45:00 -050021|697499http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/23/sony-bdp-s1-blu-ray-player-pushed-back-due-to-software-glitch/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/23/sony-bdp-s1-blu-ray-player-pushed-back-due-to-software-glitch/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/23/sony-bdp-s1-blu-ray-player-pushed-back-due-to-software-glitch/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Sony's first standalone Blu-ray player, the BDP-S1 has been pushed back so many times it's not even funny anymore. This time, the company is saying the push back is not due to any blue laser shortage, but "a specific software function that resides in the hardware" as confirmed to Electronic House. No word on what the problem is, but as complex as these next generation players are there's surely a million things that could trip it up. Hopefully it will arrive sometime this year and have totally glitch-free playback of those BD-J interactive titles due for the holiday season. Who are we kidding? Start the countdown to the first firmware update...now.

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Mon, 23 Oct 2006 13:34:00 -040021|689447http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/20/sonys-bdp-s1-blu-ray-player-delayed-again-again/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/20/sonys-bdp-s1-blu-ray-player-delayed-again-again/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/20/sonys-bdp-s1-blu-ray-player-delayed-again-again/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
The last time SonyStyle pushed back the anticipated ship date of the BDP-S1 standalone Blu-ray player, we jokingly suggested it might end up being pushed beyond the (at that point) already delayed-until-November PlayStation 3. Apparently the joke is on anyone still waiting for this box; while the $999 price hasn't changed, it is now expected to ship "on or about December 4, 2006". In light of the previous July, August, and October prognostications, the Playstation 3 shortage, battery fiasco, and even a just-announced delay of the LF-Box1 LocationFree TV streamer, Sony's manufacturing prowess seems to be slipping. Some customers who contacted Sony have reported that those who have already ordered the BDP-S1 might receive shipments before December, but these days you can't really take anything for granted.

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Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:55:00 -040021|688163http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/07/microsoft-and-nintendo-talk-trash-about-sony-delay/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/07/microsoft-and-nintendo-talk-trash-about-sony-delay/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/07/microsoft-and-nintendo-talk-trash-about-sony-delay/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Actually, the headline that would more accurately reflect the situation would read something like "Microsoft talks trash about Sony delay; Nintendo respectfully reinforces its own launch goals," but headlines like those don't sell RSS subscriptions. After hearing about Sony's weak launch quantity and global delays, Microsoft came out woodwork with a bit of backhanded sympathy (laced, of course, with some low blows): "We know how challenging it is to pull off a global launch, so it's not surprising that Sony has backed away from their previously announced launch plan, due to the unproven technology they are trying to pack in to their console." The MS types also made sure everybody knew how much they care for the global gamer: "Europe remains a priority for us. That is why gamers have been able to experience Xbox 360 from day one, and why we're confident we're going to have a great Christmas - regardless of what competitors are or are not in the market." Zing! Nintendo, however, merely reiterated their launch goals: "Wii is on track to ship in Q4, Nintendo plans to ship 6 million systems to retailers around the world between its launch in the fourth quarter of 2006 and the end of its fiscal year on March 31, 2007." Nary a dis for Sony, but we're sure they'll catch the drift all the same.

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Thu, 07 Sep 2006 00:13:00 -040021|664896http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/06/playstation-3-launch-misfire-europe-delayed-to-march-07-500k/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/06/playstation-3-launch-misfire-europe-delayed-to-march-07-500k/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/06/playstation-3-launch-misfire-europe-delayed-to-march-07-500k/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsIf you were planning on buying the Playstation 3 for gaming or as a "cheap" Blu-ray player you may want to get in line now for the November 17th launch --- not so fast Europe. Due to the shortage of blue laser diodes, there are so few that the PS3 launch in Europe and other PAL territories has been scratched for 2006 and pushed back to March 2007. According to a report from the AP, there will only be 100,000 units available in Japan at launch, and 400,000 in the US. As a result, they only expect to ship 2 million total by the end of 2006, down from the 4 million expected previously. We all remember how hard it was to get the Xbox 360 last year, which launched worldwide and had approximately 400,000 available in the US. Sony still thinks they can hit their target of 6 million Playstation 3s available by March 2007 which should be approximately the same time they are available for less than double the MSRP on eBay.

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Wed, 06 Sep 2006 08:31:00 -040021|664518http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/06/playstation-3-launch-delayed-for-europe-and-others/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/06/playstation-3-launch-delayed-for-europe-and-others/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/06/playstation-3-launch-delayed-for-europe-and-others/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsOh man, not again. Sony just announced that the European launch of the PlayStation 3 will be delayed. So instead of seeing a worldwide launch of the PS3 in early November whichnobody reallyexpected anyway, Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Africa, and "Australasia" will see the console shipping in March. Sony blames the delay on production issues with blue laser diodes needed for the Blu-ray (and HD DVD) Disc drives. Stockholders, beware.

UPDATE:According to Kaz Hirai, the production issues with the blue laser diodes will also mean that North America and Japan can only expect 500,000 units at launch. As a result, Sony has officially reduced its estimate of 4 million consoles shipped by the end of calendar year 2006 to a more conservative 2 million.

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Wed, 06 Sep 2006 04:42:00 -040021|664491http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/22/playstation-3-t-minus-3-months-not-started-manufacturing/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/22/playstation-3-t-minus-3-months-not-started-manufacturing/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/22/playstation-3-t-minus-3-months-not-started-manufacturing/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsPretty bold move, Hirai, to admit that you're less than three months out from the global launch of what could be one of the most expensive propositions Sony has ever undertaken -- and you haven't even started manufacturing. According to Kaz, who recently spoke with GameSpot, Sony "haven't started manufacturing yet. Some of [their] ops guys were actually just in China, and also in Japan just reviewing the [production] lines and everything else." Oh, great, you've got two million units to whip up and you're still in the review process. That's over 660,000 units a month if they start, um, tomorrow. Look, we're not saying it can't be done, but unless the hefty price tag of the Blu-ray behemoth outstrips consumer interest, it seems like we could be in for some serious shortages come the holiday buying season.

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Tue, 22 Aug 2006 02:12:00 -040021|657366http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/11/pioneers-european-blu-ray-launch-delayed/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/11/pioneers-european-blu-ray-launch-delayed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/11/pioneers-european-blu-ray-launch-delayed/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
This has been floating around the net for the last day, and has had some discussion in the comments of Matt's post earlier. Just to make sure everyone is clear, despite the title of this article, it doesn't say Blu-ray as a whole is delayed in Europe, only Pioneer products like the BDP-HD1 player. Just like the US launch, we still anticipate Samsung's (already-delayed) BD-P1000 will be the first Blu-ray player launched in Europe in September, not to mention the Playstation 3 console from Sony. Barring a statement to the contrary, we still assume there will be media available once those are available to buyers and that other players will follow.

As we noted previously, Toshiba's European HD DVD launch is a bit more clearly defined, but we are still awaiting a date and price.

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Tue, 11 Jul 2006 18:02:00 -040021|641814http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/10/more-details-on-blu-ray-delays/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/10/more-details-on-blu-ray-delays/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/10/more-details-on-blu-ray-delays/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
We reported a few months ago that Sony did not think that they could keep up with the Blu-ray demand. That seems apparent now as everyone but Samsung pushed back th launch of their Blu-ray players. The issue seems to be stemming from a tight supply of a key component of the optical drive. Manufacturers are experiencing low yields because of some type of technical issue. There are only two suppliers, Sony and Nichia, and Sony is hording a good amount of 'em for the PS3. This key component is not only for players, but also recorders. This tight supply is not excepted to get better till sometime in September.

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Mon, 10 Jul 2006 11:01:00 -040021|641163http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/21/sony-bdp-s1-delayed-again-until-october-25/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/21/sony-bdp-s1-delayed-again-until-october-25/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/21/sony-bdp-s1-delayed-again-until-october-25/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
It's delayed, it's not delayed, it's delayed -- further. That's right, Sony's BDP-S1, the Blu-ray player subject to a delayed news reaction over its quiet shove into an August launch timeframe, was today discovered to once again be pushed back, this time until late October. We can't confirm whether this release demotion is also going to affect the Japanese launch of the player, but this old song is getting pretty sad. We know Sony wants to get the player right before they push it out the door (while also protecting their margins and ensuring supply, etc.), but at this point we're going to be less than surprised if the launch date "accidentally" slips past the PlayStation 3, which Sony may stick us with in order to better to parade their big Blu-ray push around the nascent console.

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Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:03:00 -040021|635686http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/21/sony-bdp-s1-blu-ray-player-really-is-delayed-october-25/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/21/sony-bdp-s1-blu-ray-player-really-is-delayed-october-25/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/21/sony-bdp-s1-blu-ray-player-really-is-delayed-october-25/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsThe internet went ablaze a couple weeks ago when someone finally noticed that the Sony BDP-S1 Blu-ray player had been delayed until August on their SonyStyle website (even though it had been like that since April). Now, our friends at HDBlog have noticed that the date has changed again, now shipping on or about October 25th.

Ouch. Although as HDBlog notes, SonyStyle is sometimes delayed in receiving new products, until now their website has reflected the exact expected shipping date of Sony's Blu-ray player so we believe it still does. There have been reports that Sony's hardware is still far from ready, and this could support that conclusion, or may be they are just waiting for better quality movies to be available. Another theory suggests they are delaying the BDP-S1 to increase drive availability for the Playstation 3 and alleviate shortages.

Whatever the cause, HD DVD is on the ground and gaining momentum, if the BDP-S1 keeps slipping, the PS3 may end up being Sony's first Blu-ray release.